Wonderful hidden drives in Ireland

April 21, 2017

By Nick Vincent

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Ireland is a beautiful country, and is one of the best places in the world for a road trip. If you’re looking for a great place to spend some time in the car and seeing the sights, here are some of the best drives:

Galway to Westport

This drive heads through Connemara, and you’ll go into the mountains with a beautiful view of the coast as you travel to Clifden. Once you’ve reached Clifden, you’ll head back towards Westport and will go past many beautiful lakes on the way back.

The Inishowen 100

This was named for the approximate distance of the drive in miles, and you’ll travel around the most northerly point of Ireland’s coast. You’ll stop at Malin Head, and since most of the drive is coastal, you can expect stunning views.

Start in Muff, and take the road to Moville before continuing North. you’ll drive through the Malin Head Loop and will then finish your drive in the tiny village of Burnfoot. If you’re looking for an incredible drive where you can stop for many photo opportunities, this is the one for you.

The Burren Beauty

This drive is 68km, and you’ll head to North West Clare, which overlooks Galway Bay and the Atlantic. Start in Kilfenora before heading through Lisdoonvarna and up to Black Head. You’ll eventually go back through Carran, and you’ll have ocean on one side and rocky terrain on the other throughout the trip.

The Sally Gap

This East-to-West drive will take you across the Wicklow Mountains. You’ll also see some of the best mountain and lake scenery to be found away from the coastline. If you’re staying in Dublin, this is a very accessible drive, and you can get away from the hustle and bustle and see some of Ireland’s beauty for a few hours.

Giant’s Causeway Coast

You’ve probably already heard of the Giant’s Causeway, but this drive will take you on a great tour of many of the main tourist sites in Northern Ireland. You’ll start in Belfast before driving up the Northern Coast. Stop at the Giant’s Causeway to enjoy this wonder, and then visit the gorgeous little seaside towns of Portstewart and Portrush. Don’t forget to check out the Bushmills distillery on the way. This drive is 190km and it doesn’t loop back to the beginning, but it’s well worth the drive.

Sperrin Mountains

The Northern mountains are a must-see in Ireland. Begin in Strabane and make your way towards Sawel Mountain (the roads will be twisty so make sure you’re ready to concentrate). You’ll see peaks and valleys both above and below as you drive, which makes it one of the most impressive landscapes in Ireland.

For more hidden drives in Ireland, check out Chill for an ebook that will show you the best of what Ireland has to offer.

What’s your favourite drive in Ireland? Is it one of the above drives or maybe it’s not on the list? Let us know in the comments below.